En 15 secondes
- Used to remove objects, pain, or specific ideas from a situation.
- Commonly used in restaurants, business meetings, and medical contexts.
- Can be a verb or a noun meaning 'main lesson learned'.
Signification
To move something from one place to another, or to remove a specific feeling or object from a situation.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6At a restaurant
You can take away these plates now, we are finished.
You can remove these plates now.
Discussing a movie
My main take away from the film was that family is everything.
My main lesson from the film was that family is everything.
In a business meeting
What are the key points we should take away from this presentation?
What are the key points we should learn from this presentation?
Contexte culturel
The 'Friday night takeaway' is a cultural institution. Popular choices include Indian curry, Chinese food, and Fish and Chips. It's often eaten while watching TV. Americans almost always say 'takeout' or 'to go' for food. Using 'takeaway' for food will mark you as a British English speaker. In global business, 'key takeaways' are expected at the end of every meeting. It shows efficiency and focus on results. Similar to the UK, 'takeaway' is the standard term. Australians also use 'take away' in the context of sports (taking the ball away from an opponent).
The Pronoun Rule
Always put 'it' or 'them' in the middle. 'Take it away' sounds natural; 'Take away it' sounds like a robot.
US vs UK
If you're in New York, ask for 'takeout.' If you're in London, ask for a 'takeaway.'
En 15 secondes
- Used to remove objects, pain, or specific ideas from a situation.
- Commonly used in restaurants, business meetings, and medical contexts.
- Can be a verb or a noun meaning 'main lesson learned'.
What It Means
Take away is a versatile phrase about removal. It means moving something from its current spot. It can be a physical object like a plate. It can also be an abstract thing like pain. Think of it as clearing the space. It’s the opposite of bringing something closer.
How To Use It
You can use it with objects or ideas. You can put the object in the middle. For example, take the trash away. Or you can keep it together: take away the trash. Both are perfectly natural. Use it when you want something gone. It works for cleaning, math, or even emotions.
When To Use It
Use it at a restaurant when you're finished eating. Tell the server they can take away your plate. Use it when talking about lessons learned. What did you take away from that meeting? Use it in a pharmacy when buying painkillers. You want the medicine to take away the ache. It’s great for clearing clutter at home too.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it if you are bringing something to yourself. That is bring over. Don't use it for people leaving a party. They just leave. If a person is being removed by force, it sounds like an arrest. Be careful with that context! Avoid it in very poetic settings where remove sounds more elegant.
Cultural Background
In the UK and Australia, takeaway is the word for fast food. In the US, they usually say to-go. It implies a busy, modern lifestyle. It also refers to the 'key points' of a presentation. This shows how much we value efficiency. We want the 'meat' of the information to carry with us.
Common Variations
Takeaway (noun) refers to the main lesson or food. Take it away! is a classic showbiz phrase. It means 'start the performance!' You might hear a host say this to a band. In math, kids say five take away two. It’s the friendly version of subtraction.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and safe for almost any setting. Just remember the one-word noun/two-word verb distinction for better writing.
The Pronoun Rule
Always put 'it' or 'them' in the middle. 'Take it away' sounds natural; 'Take away it' sounds like a robot.
US vs UK
If you're in New York, ask for 'takeout.' If you're in London, ask for a 'takeaway.'
Meeting Summaries
Using 'My takeaway is...' at the end of a meeting makes you sound very professional and organized.
Exemples
6You can take away these plates now, we are finished.
You can remove these plates now.
A polite way to tell the waiter you are done eating.
My main take away from the film was that family is everything.
My main lesson from the film was that family is everything.
Here it acts as a noun meaning 'the lesson'.
What are the key points we should take away from this presentation?
What are the key points we should learn from this presentation?
Used to identify the most important information.
I need some aspirin to take away this pain.
I need some aspirin to remove this pain.
Commonly used for physical sensations or problems.
If you don't stop, I'm going to take away your phone!
I'm going to remove your phone from you!
Used as a consequence or punishment.
You're doing great, maestro—take it away!
You're doing great, maestro—start playing!
A common idiom to tell someone to start a performance.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'take away'.
If you have twenty dollars and I ____ five, you have fifteen left.
This is a general mathematical truth, so we use the simple present.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
The trash is full. Please...
Pronouns must go between 'take' and 'away'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'How was the seminar?' B: 'It was great! My biggest ____ was that we need to be more patient.'
In this context, 'take away' refers to a lesson or key point.
Match the sentence to the situation.
'Two burgers to take away, please.'
'Take away' is used for ordering food to go.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
The Four Faces of 'Take Away'
Physical
- • Plates
- • Trash
- • Boxes
Math
- • 10 - 5
- • Subtract
- • Minus
Food
- • Pizza
- • Burgers
- • To-go
Learning
- • Lessons
- • Insights
- • Meetings
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIf you have twenty dollars and I ____ five, you have fifteen left.
This is a general mathematical truth, so we use the simple present.
The trash is full. Please...
Pronouns must go between 'take' and 'away'.
A: 'How was the seminar?' B: 'It was great! My biggest ____ was that we need to be more patient.'
In this context, 'take away' refers to a lesson or key point.
'Two burgers to take away, please.'
'Take away' is used for ordering food to go.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsAs a verb, it's two words ('I will take away the trash'). As a noun, it's usually one word ('The takeaway was clear').
Yes, but it often means taking them to jail or removing them by force. 'The police took him away.'
'Take away' is used in sentences ('10 take away 5'), while 'minus' is used as a symbol or more formally ('10 minus 5').
Yes, medicine can 'take away' pain, and a good friend can 'take away' your worries.
Expressions liées
take out
similarTo remove something from inside to outside.
take back
contrastTo return something to its original place.
take off
similarTo remove clothing or for a plane to leave the ground.
carry away
similarTo be overcome by emotion.
take your breath away
specialized formTo be extremely beautiful or surprising.
